Informatica PowerCenter Developer Specialist study plan
Informatica PowerCenter Developer Specialist · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Repository Objects, Source and Target Definitions
Build a folder structure in the Repository Manager that separates shared, staging, and mart objects, then import relational and flat-file source definitions and confirm datatype, precision, and nullability match the source system.
Configure a Source Qualifier with a custom SQL override, a filter on the source table, and a sorted-port option, then verify the generated SQL in the session log.
Create target definitions with correct key constraints and database type overrides, and compare a truncate-and-reload path against an update-strategy path.
Export an object report from the Repository Manager and annotate which objects are reusable versus mapping-local.
Your checkpoint
A one-page repository object inventory for a sample sales-ordering schema listing every source, target, shortcut, and reusable object with its reuse rationale.
Repository Objects, Source and Target Definitions & Mapping Design and Core Transformations
Construct a pass-through mapping that links Source Qualifier to target with no transformations, then add Expression, Filter, and Router transformations one at a time and confirm row counts at each step.
Set the Filter transformation to reject rows explicitly and route them to a separate reject target so the rejected volume is auditable.
Design the source-to-target field flow so that ports are named consistently and document datatype conversions in the mapping description.
Reproduce a known row-count total in the target and reconcile it against the source with a COUNT query.
Your checkpoint
A validated mapping whose target row counts reconcile exactly to source counts and whose rejected rows land in a separate audited reject table.
Mapping Design and Core Transformations
Build a mapping that joins two source tables using a sorted-input Joiner with the master source on the smaller table, and confirm the port ordering of the detail source.
Replace a Joiner with a Lookup transformation using a persistent cache, and compare the performance difference in the session log timings.
Implement Sorter, Aggregator, and Union transformations to produce a summarized revenue figure, and set the Aggregator to sorted input so the Integration Service avoids a sort.
Configure the Lookup transformation for dynamic caching only where the lookup source changes during the load, and explain why static caching is preferred otherwise.
Handle unmatched lookup rows using a default value and route the failed lookups to an error table.
Your checkpoint
A single mapping containing Joiner, Lookup, Sorter, Aggregator, and Union transformations that reproduces a monthly revenue report, plus timing notes from two cache configurations.
Mapping Design and Core Transformations & Advanced Transformations, Mapplets and Reusable Logic
Audit the week-3 mapping in verbose session mode, trace one record from source to target, and correct every implied datatype or truncation warning.
Replace a duplicated transformation across two mappings with a shared reusable transformation and confirm both mappings still produce identical output.
Build a mapplet that encapsulates the standard reject-and-audit logic, then insert it into two existing mappings.
Complete a timed practice set covering source and target definitions, core transformations, and mapplet usage.
Your checkpoint
A reusable mapplet plus a mid-point timed practice set scored at 80% or better, with a written list of every missed question and its corrected explanation.
Advanced Transformations, Mapplets and Reusable Logic
Create a Normalizer transformation to convert a repeating-group COBOL or flat-file source into relational rows, and validate the occurrence count against the file header.
Build an unconnected Lookup transformation and call it from an Expression transformation using the :LKP reference, then explain when unconnected lookups outperform connected ones.
Implement an Update Strategy transformation that marks rows as insert, update, delete, or reject using conditional expressions and confirm the resulting target behavior.
Configure a Stored Procedure transformation in connected and unconnected modes and document the difference in return-value handling.
Catalog every reusable component created so far with its input ports, output ports, and intended reuse scenario.
Your checkpoint
A component library sheet covering Normalizer, unconnected Lookup, Update Strategy, and connected versus unconnected Stored Procedure usage, each with a working example mapping name.
Advanced Transformations, Mapplets and Reusable Logic & Workflows, Sessions, Tasks and Scheduling
Assemble a workflow containing two sessions wired sequentially, a Decision task that branches on a preceding session's status, and an Email task on failure.
Externalize connection values, source file paths, and last-run dates into a parameter file, then run the same workflow twice with different parameter files.
Configure the session for a source-based commit interval and confirm the commit boundary in the session log.
Set the workflow to run on a schedule and confirm the scheduled instance starts, completes, and writes a run record.
Your checkpoint
A parameterized, scheduled workflow with branching and failure notification that runs successfully twice against two different parameter files, plus both session logs.
Workflows, Sessions, Tasks and Scheduling & Performance Tuning, Error Handling and Recovery
Configure session recovery to resume from the last commit point after an intentional mid-load abort, and confirm that no rows are duplicated or dropped.
Compare the throughput of a session using a partition type against the same session without partitioning, and record rows-per-second for both runs.
Set a reject file and a reject file limit for one target, trigger a datatype rejection, and verify the rejected row appears in the reject file with its error message.
Push source-side filtering into the database with a Source Qualifier filter override and confirm via the session log that fewer rows reach the Integration Service.
Tune an Aggregator-heavy mapping using sorted input and incremental aggregation, and document the change in runtime.
Your checkpoint
A performance and recovery report showing before-and-after runtime and rows-per-second figures for four tuning changes, plus proof of a clean restart with no duplicated rows.
Performance Tuning, Error Handling and Recovery & Repository Objects, Source and Target Definitions & Mapping Design and Core Transformations
Re-run every earlier deliverable against a fresh repository folder to confirm the objects are self-contained and portable.
Complete two full-length timed practice exams and review every wrong answer against the relevant domain documentation.
Rewrite the ten weakest topics from memory as a one-page cheat sheet covering repository objects, transformation behavior, and session recovery semantics.
Identify any remaining gaps and schedule a targeted re-test of those specific areas.
Your checkpoint
Two completed full-length practice exams at 85% or better, plus a one-page personal cheat sheet and a list of remaining gap topics with a fix plan.
Milestones
Week 2: Deliverable mapping reconciles source and target row counts exactly, and the candidate can explain in writing why each of Source Qualifier, Expression, Filter, and Router was placed where it is.
Week 4: Timed practice set on domains 1, 2, and early domain 3 scored at 80% or better, with a reusable mapplet committed to the repository and used by at least two mappings.
Week 6: Parameterized workflow with Decision, Email, and scheduling runs end to end twice with different parameter files, and the candidate can read a session log to locate a commit boundary.
Week 8: Two full-length practice exams at 85% or better, a completed performance and recovery report, and a written gap list containing no item without a remediation date.